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Topic: Not to Early - General Admission Line SOP (Read 7122 times)

As I'm not going to the first few MSG shows, hopefully I'll hear some reports on here and elsewhere as to how the GA lines are going there before the first of my shows (7/26). If I'm in line the whole day and someone shows up an hour before opening who I haven't seen in line yet, and says they are really in front of me, too damn bad. Try someone else.

Do these line nazis have anything to do with the band? Have they got authority to do this?

Nope, they are just a group of fans from another site who seem to think they rule the U2 GA line world. I've never understood why everyone just lets them get away with this. If I ever had GA and stood in line all day only to be pushed out by one of them, I'd kick their butts.

The time I lined up, security came out early in the day and asked what we needed to make the process go smoothly. They handed out wristbands hours before the show and put up barricades.

When the would-be line rushers showed up a couple of hours before the doors opened, we would point them out and they would be escorted to the back of the line. And even if they had been allowed to stay, they wouldn't have had the bands that were given out earlier in the day.

I'm not sure why this wouldn't work at every show. Break line? OK. Stand there. No wristband? You aren't getting in.

I've never done GA myself, mostly out of a lack of desire to spend all day in line waiting for a show. And the idea of sleeping out the night before just to get a better spot seems absurd to me, but to each his/her own.

That said I do have GA for LA1 and I am interested to observe how it goes (not to mention simply to experience GA for this unique stage setup). However I am flying in to LA a few hours before the show and as such am unlikely to enjoy all the BS involved with queuing...

I know there have been other threads on the forum having to do with the 'Line Nazis' and how all the queuing is handled, and so maybe one of the more experienced GA-ers can weigh in here, because I am curious as to a few things:

- Is it possible the 'organizers' are in fact performing a valuable service by not allowing last minute arrivals to simply show up and jump into the front of the line? - Or are they performing an unnecessary, and merely self-serving, role, because the queue really ought to be self-regulating: you get in line and stay there. If you leave, you forfeit your spot (unless you are there with a buddy/buddies). In this way, people would be discouraged from getting there the night before. Or maybe the reverse would happen... people would stake there spots with their buddies so as not to give up their space... - Without these organizers, would the situation be even worse, with people fighting with each other over their place in line (think English/Euro football, yikes) ... i.e. is a number actually a better way to do it? And if arena security doesn't perform this service, who will?

As I said, I have not experienced this before so interested in finding out what happens. Like many of you, I despise the idea of a bunch of self-important uber-fans dictating the queue policy... I am thinking of those ludicrous sisters from Utah or wherever and the stories I've heard about their self-entitled view of their rights in the queue and position in GA... but I am also wondering what is a better way to do it...

Yeah I'm showing up at the United Center with my mama and I'm finding a line and plopping down. I'm not getting on any lists or anything like that. First come, first serve. I'll be traveling from Nebraska the day of so I'm going to have a GREAT time at my first U2 concert.

Yeah I'm showing up at the United Center with my mama and I'm finding a line and plopping down. I'm not getting on any lists or anything like that. First come, first serve. I'll be traveling from Nebraska the day of so I'm going to have a GREAT time at my first U2 concert.

I've been to Chicago for the past 4 tours. Chicago PD does not allow people to "camp" out. As a result, someone (line nazi) creates a list that people sign up on and then when allowed to que (6am), people come back and assemble in the order they are on the list. It has happened that way for years. The problem as someone pointed out, is often times you have to hunt high and low for the person with the list.... Security does allow and accept this list as long as there aren't problems. If it becomes unruly or a problem, then they step in.

Most of the time, it works perfectly smooth. I sat in line for 3 days for the Joshua Tree tour... You do your time in line, getting out for break or food, etc... it's all good. But in a city where they don't allow the "camp out",,,, it caused this situation where a list is created. They take your name and then you leave... Always feels weird to me because unlike some, I do like to get there early and close to the stage. I bring my 12-16 year old kids with me and it is witnessing history for them (modern day Beatles)...

I'm sure all will get figured out once the tour starts and others start to post how their experience went... I agree that it would be so much easier if there was a way to show up an hour or two ahead and still get super great spots in front of the stage. Usually,,, not always,, but usually it does not happen.... Wrist bands are good but they don't give them out until a few hours before the show. And that is WAY after that line has been forming...

I've been to Chicago for the past 4 tours. Chicago PD does not allow people to "camp" out. As a result, someone (line nazi) creates a list that people sign up on and then when allowed to que (6am), people come back and assemble in the order they are on the list. It has happened that way for years. The problem as someone pointed out, is often times you have to hunt high and low for the person with the list.... Security does allow and accept this list as long as there aren't problems. If it becomes unruly or a problem, then they step in.

Most of the time, it works perfectly smooth. I sat in line for 3 days for the Joshua Tree tour... You do your time in line, getting out for break or food, etc... it's all good. But in a city where they don't allow the "camp out",,,, it caused this situation where a list is created. They take your name and then you leave... Always feels weird to me because unlike some, I do like to get there early and close to the stage. I bring my 12-16 year old kids with me and it is witnessing history for them (modern day Beatles)...

I'm sure all will get figured out once the tour starts and others start to post how their experience went... I agree that it would be so much easier if there was a way to show up an hour or two ahead and still get super great spots in front of the stage. Usually,,, not always,, but usually it does not happen.... Wrist bands are good but they don't give them out until a few hours before the show. And that is WAY after that line has been forming...

Are you worried about finding the line in Chicago? Because it has not ever changed at the United Center, so if you've already seen shows from GA there, you know where the line will be. They will officially say there's no lineup until noon or so, but we all know that's not what's actually going to happen. The line will be on a city sidewalk and the UC views that as outside their jurisdiction so they won't bother with it unless it's being disruptive and they feel they have to call police. There were definitely people camping overnight on the Vertigo Tour, a few even had tents.

Soldier Field was different because the Chicago Park District is very strict about people loitering all night on their land and since they owned everything in the vicinity of the stadium, people had to be creative about where to gather.

Im not sure there is a strong enough reason to queue this time, think about it. Because of the stage layout where ever you are in the in the GA area your always a closer distance then any other tour. It also looks like there are less GA tickets than the other tours.

Im not sure there is a strong enough reason to queue this time, think about it. Because of the stage layout where ever you are in the in the GA area your always a closer distance then any other tour. It also looks like there are less GA tickets than the other tours.

OK that's fine when your tall. I am not so i want to stand at a good spot (don't wanna admire someones shirt or back of neck). I'm Lucky, my friend has a good sprint and i'm mostly right behind her.

I've been sitting outside the venue in Turin for three days now, I have already placed a number 1 on my hand with a sharpie, I think i might fly back to the UK and com back in September as there isnt much happening .

Yeah I'm showing up at the United Center with my mama and I'm finding a line and plopping down. I'm not getting on any lists or anything like that. First come, first serve. I'll be traveling from Nebraska the day of so I'm going to have a GREAT time at my first U2 concert.

Yeah I'm showing up at the United Center with my mama and I'm finding a line and plopping down. I'm not getting on any lists or anything like that. First come, first serve. I'll be traveling from Nebraska the day of so I'm going to have a GREAT time at my first U2 concert.

I saw my first U2 show in Sunrise Musical Theatre for the WAR tour. I sat in the nosebleed section... I graduated to a closer seat for the Unforgettable Fire tour but still nothing like being up close. I've had seats for about 20 U2 shows. It is great to not have the "pressure" you refer to when going to the show. What you gain by having the ability to "chill" and "relax" you give up in other ways. I agree with you that GA is the ONLY way to see U2. But the queing experience is like nothing else. Getting in line to "camp out" (at venues that still let you) with fellow U2 fans is part of the overall event. I've met some incredible people whom I have stayed friends with years after the shows.

There is no way to describe being in the GA area in NYC after 9/11, with FDNY on the stage... Every U2 show seems to offer different pinnacle moments just like that... Seeing 'Unknown Caller' before it was pulled from the set list. You get it... Preaching to the choir... I don't need Bono's sweat on me but to be in a sea of U2 fans who are all there for the single purpose is religious. And close is never close enough to the action. I can hang in a bar with fans after the Circus has left town.